Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekmallorca’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekmallorca’, characterized by its decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic to oblong-shaped, dark pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekmallorca’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is co-pending with the following relatedapplication (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 11/267,902): Title:Chrysanthemum Plant Named ‘Dekalgarve’. Applicant: Cornelis W. Dekker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andreferred to by the name ‘Dekmallorca’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivarswith interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Dec. 2, 2003, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 41222,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryChrysanthemum selection identified as code number 01.5574.02, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inHensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings inHensbroek, The Netherlands since April, 2003, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekmallorca has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dekmallorca’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dekmallorca’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic to        oblong-shaped, pink-colored ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Early and uniform flowering response.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek,The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about three to four        days later than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differed in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection had white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek,The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in growth habit as plants of the newChrysanthemum were less vigorous than plants of the male parentselection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Dekalgarve. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedprimarily from plants of the cultivar Dekalgarve in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Dekalgarve.    -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were darker        pink in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar        Dekalgarve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Dekmallorca’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Dekmallorca’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofupper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Dekmallorca’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were aboutfive kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks fromplanting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Dekmallorca.-   Commercial classification: Decorative-type Chrysanthemum typically    grown as a disbud-type cut flower.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41222,            not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            01.5574.02, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut Chrysanthemum;            typically grown as a disbud-type; erect and strong flowering            stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm.            Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.            Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown            as single stems. Color: 146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 7 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed.            Texture, upper and lower surface: Pubescent; rough;            leathery. Petiole length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Color:            Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A to 137B. Developing            foliage, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: 137A; venation, 147B. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, 146B.            Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with elliptic            to oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.            Typically grown as a disbud-type.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant            typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At            other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and            development can be induced under short day/long night            conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed            to long day/short night conditions after planting followed            by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower            about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain            good substance and form for about three weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—Grown as a            disbud-type, only one inflorescence per stem is allowed to            develop. Grown as a spray-type, about 12 to 15            inflorescences develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (height):            About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter:            About 7 mm to 9 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 137D.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 1 cm            to 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic to oblong. Apex: Emarginate. Base:            Acute; fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 300. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 76C; color becoming closer            to 76D with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 76D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 5 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 10. Color: Immature: 145D. Mature: Apex: 145A.            Mid-section: 150B. Base: 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147A to 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Angle: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 137C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: No anthers observed on disc            florets. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.            Stigma length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Stigma diameter: About            0.3 mm. Stigma color: Towards the apex, 13A; towards the            base, 150C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens    and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named‘Dekmallorca’, as illustrated and described.